Charger Chatter
March 30, 2020
Dear Parents,

Today the Governor, Mike DeWine, announced that schools will be closed until at least May 1. St. Charles will continue to operate as it has these past three weeks. Teachers will communicate with students and parents to provide educational resources to maintain learning during these difficult times. 

Teachers are also teaching online through computer based programs. I am proud of the teachers for stepping up and learning new technology skills and ways to interact with students. Many parents have commented how grateful they are for the time and effort the teaches are putting in to address the needs of their child. It is also a difficult balance to find the appropriate level of work for each child. Many children have the ability to work independently where as some need more guidance one-on-one. This difficult balance can place an additional burden on parents that we are not trying to add to. The teachers and I are constantly reevaluating our procedures and how best to conduct learning at home. If you have concerns please reach out to your child's teacher to determine the best way we can help.

The school has technology resources that we can loan to families that may be in need of additional devices to maintain learning. Please contact Mr.Bertke,  jbertke@stcharleskettering.org , if you need any technology assistance. Also please be aware that many internet companies are offering free or discounted upgrades to home internet connections. Please reach out to them if you are in need of service.

I will continue to operate out of the school office Monday-Friday from 8 AM-noon. Teachers will be dropping off supplies and lessons for students. Parents are welcome to drop off completed work or pick up supplies. Please maintain safe distances in the school lobby and please do not visit if you are sick.

The parish staff is also here for you to meet your spiritual needs. As we approach Palm Sunday and Easter these important events and Holy Week will look a bit different. Please join us for Mass online through the parish website and look for more information in parish communications on how to recognize Holy Week with your family.

Thank you for working with us to educate your child. This is a difficult and trying time for everyone. Please keep safe and healthy.

God Bless,

David Bogle
Principal

#STAYATHOME

We hope you are all well and adjusting to a new type of temporary normal. As we start our third week of the "Stay At Home" order given by Governor DeWine, we would like to remind you that we are all in this together. If you should need something please do not hesitate to reach out to your child's teacher(s), school office ( office@stcharleskettering.org ), school principal ( dbogle@stcharleskettering.org ), school nurse ( sullmer@stcharleskettering.org ), and the school counselor ( bwill@stcharleskettering.org ).

To stay safe and healthy remember:
  • Stay home unless essential.
  • Keep your social distancing to at least 6 feet. This includes outside play! 
  • Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
  • Cover your cough or sneeze with your sleeve or tissue.
  • Avoid touching your face.
  • Clean frequently touch surfaces and objects often.
  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
  • Stay home when you are sick, except to get medical care.
  • Take a walk or exercise.
  • Eat 3 healthy/balanced meals per day and try to avoid grazing.
  • Get enough sleep.

For more information on COVID-19, visit Ohio Department of Health  coronavirus.ohio.gov  and watch a message from some of our Ohio

Athletes/Coaches  #InThisTogetherOhio
We would like to thank all of you for helping our communities flatten the curve. We know this is a tough time, but we want to reiterate guidelines from Governor DeWine
and that is Stay At Home unless it is essential.  

#StayAtHomeOhio #InThisTogetherOhio
"I don't want you to be afraid. I am not afraid. I am determined, but I need you to do everything. I want you to think about the fact this is our one shot in this country. All of us are going to have to sacrifice (to stay at home), and I know someday we will be looking back and wondering what was it we did in this moment. There will be so many heroes. Everyone is being heroic right now, and I can tell you that every action you take is mattering, but this is that moment. It is our one shot," - Amy Acton, MD,MPH, Director, Ohio Department of Health

LIBRARY UPDATE- Build a reading fort today!

One of my favorite places to read is on my back porch in an old rocking chair. It has been too cold and too wet to do much reading out there. I remember when I was little my brother and I would build a fort with a card table and sheet. We had lots of fun playing and reading in our fort. This week I challenge you to build a reading fort and spend some time reading there. You can use a teepee, a table, a special place in your bedroom or house and set up a comfy reading spot. You might need to add blankets or a flashlight to help set the mood. It would be fun to read out loud to your younger sibling, pet or stuffed animals. You can send photos of you reading in your reading fort to Mrs. Collins, mcollins@stcharleskettering.org and she will share them with us. I am excited to see you and your reading fort.

I have a few new websites with free digital books and story times. I have posted all the links on the library homepage, https://acld.follettdestiny.com/ for your convenience.I hope you have bookmarked our library home page.

Junior Library Guild has opened up many free digital resources for k-12 students; books, webcasts and virtual author visits. 

Bookaroo.com has curated a calendar of Children’s Book Live Read Alouds and Events. There are so many resources available and this calendar can help you keep track of them.

I can see some of you are checking out Ebooks from our Destiny shelf. I hope you are enjoying them.

Happy Reading,

Mrs. Brown
Alms Giving Update:
If you have donations for Partnering with the Poor or the Romanian school for the safety of all, please mail to the church office. You can mail donations to St. Charles Church 4500 Ackerman Blvd, Kettering OH 45429. Please not for Alms Giving donations. Thank you!
GRAB-AND-GO MEALS FOR KETTERING KIDS DURING SCHOOL CLOSURE:
A big THANK YOU to Food and Nutrition Services supervisor Stacie Pabst and her staff who have a plan in place to provide breakfast and lunch meals to Kettering children during the extended school closure.
Beginning on Monday, March 23, 2020, grab-and-go meals can be picked up daily between 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. at five of the district's school buildings. Meals will be available for ANY Kettering child 18-years-old and younger, as well as our Transition Services students.
To assist the Food and Nutrition Services Department in planning for the grab-and-go meals, please complete this simple form --  http://bit.ly/2UiTnLi
If you do not know your child's School ID Number, or your child does not have an ID Number, please put "Number not Known" in this field on the form.

GRAB-AND-GO MEAL DISTRIBUTION SITES:
Fairmont High School -- Door 26 (Athletic office entrance at back parking lot)
Kettering Middle School -- Cafeteria driveway at the North parking lot
Greenmont Elementary -- Corner of Briedweng and Wren Circle
John F. Kennedy Elementary -- Back lot of school/cafeteria at drop-off/pick-up line
Southdale Elementary -- Loading dock at west side of school building
Letters to local nursing homes and
homebound Loved Ones!

One of our wonderful mom's, Heidi Steinker, decided to round up STC families to write letters to our special family members who live in places where visitors are not allowed at this time.

Thank you to all of our families for making these special family members
feel our St. Charles Love!
St. Charles School Office will be open
Monday through Friday from 8-12 p.m.

Reminder to check out our Facebook
and Instagram accounts for more great
pictures of our students,
click on the icons above to follow our school accounts!

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Don't forget to have FUN with Virtual Spirit Week!

Tuesday- Faith Family Day write a letter to a member of your family!

Wednesday- Art and Color! Wear your favorite color and make an art project out of something recycled.

Thursday- Get Active and wear something with your favorite sports team!

Friday- STC Spirit Day! Wear your best blue and gold and go on a virtual field trip!
St. Charles Mission Statement
Saint Charles Borromeo School, a Catholic faith-filled community, sees Christ in all. We build a strong foundation of Faith, foster an unending appetite for Knowledge , instill Honor through Christ-like actions, and provide opportunities to achieve Balance as well-rounded individuals.